Page 4 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“I’m slowly getting back to my luna duties,” Annie says. “Liam and I are looking for a nanny.”

“I can help you look for one,” Dave offers. “I think there are a lot of young college students in the pack who could do with the extra cash. Plus, a job for the alpha and luna always sounds good.”

“He is right,” I agree.

“Thanks, Dave. Are you sure you have time for it?” Annie asks.

“I have some research to do at the Council later today, but I’m free until lunch.”

“I can help too,” I offer.

“I told you to take the day off,” Annie says. “You and Dante worked so much the last couple of weeks to fill in for Liam and me while we were with the babies.”

“Don’t tell me you are bored already.” Dave grins at me. “Five minutes into your day off.”

“No,” I say. “Actually, I have plenty I want to do. Or rather should do.”

Dave eyes me skeptically. “What is there you should do? It doesn’t sound too exciting…”

I take a sip from my coffee, bracing myself inwardly. “I still didn’t go through all my parents’ belongings.”

There is silence following my words, as expected. Fortunately, Annie breaks it. “Does this mean you are ready to face it now?”

“No,” I admit quietly. “I think I will never be ready, but the longer I wait, the more difficult it will get.”

My parents died when I was very small. They were part of a resistance group against the former alpha here, a true tyrant and psychopath. Their resistance cost them and their friends their lives… and me a childhood in peace. I’m proud of my parents for being so strong and for trying to do the right thing, but I’m mad at the same time for having been stripped of a loving family.

I grew up secluded in my pack, branded a traitor’s daughter, until Annie and Liam helped to free the pack from the psycho and took over the reign.

It shouldn’t be that difficult to go through the little my parents left me. It’s been many years since they died, but I never had the chance to mourn them or to understand who they were and what they did.

Dante and I both have so much baggage to carry that I decided I have to work on mine now so that we can move on together.

“I can help you,” Annie offers. “Or at least be your company.”

“I… no…” I do want her help, especially her emotional support, but she is the luna, and she has so much on her plate already. “I can’t ask that from you.”

“But Dave said he will help with finding a nanny,” Annie points out. “Jun has prepared a few folders with everything I missed in the last couple of months. I can take them along and read through them while you go through your things.”

It sounds amazing to just have her there. “Thank you, Annie.” I take the smaller of the twin girls, Aurora, into my arms and rock her a bit while Annie keeps feeding Asteria. Aurora is a bit more whiny and fussy but so adorable. Meanwhile, Asteria is Annie’s and Liam’s firstborn, meaning she inherited all of Liam’s alpha power and is the future heir to the pack. She is a very quiet child, but not the shy kind of quiet. She is very observant.

“Look at those two princesses,” Dave coos. “Makes me almost wish to have one of my own.”

“Are you thinking about adopting?” I ask.

“I saidalmost, El,” he snorts.

Jun, who has been eating his breakfast in silence up to now—he is bad with multi-tasking and small-talk—chuckles. “You say that now, Dave, but I can already envision you and Raffy with a crazy little whirlwind.”

“Why don’t you and Luca adopt instead?” Dave retorts.

Jun smiles. “Luca wants to finish his education first, but we aren’t opposed to the idea.”

“I can’t believe we are having a baby talk,” Dave groans. “And I can’t even complain about it because I was stupid enough to start it.” He nudges me now. “What about you and your sexy sugar daddy?”

“Would you not call him that?” I frown. “He isn’t that much older!”

“But he is hot,” he argues.